How do you use it? Does it keep in the refrigerator?

kayoungche, it's a two-part container. The top part, the piece you see as the lid, is actually an upside down bell-shaped bowl to hold room-temperature butter (usually about one stick's worth). In the bottom part you put water, and then you store the butter on the counter. When you put the lid back in the dish, the water creates an airtight seal. The water keeps the butter from going stale, and keeping it on the counter or in the cupboard keeps it spreadable. You just have to make sure to change the water every other day, and also keep in mind that while this will keep the butter from getting stale, it won't prevent it going rancid if your home is kept too warm and you leave the butter out for too long.

We call it a French butter keeper. We have one and it works great.

I just leave my butter on the counter in a regular old butter dish. No water to change, and I use it frequently enough that it doesn't go rancid.

I use one all autumn/winter and love it.

In the summer the butter is too soft and gets rancid quickly.

my butter bell just makes life easier (and smoother!). i recommend http://www.frenchbutterdish.com/ for a handmade, stoneware version created in the USA with a practical design that allows the lid/dish to rest on the table.

I also use it just in when the weather is cool. Nothing is more annoying than putting cold butter on bread.

i had one of these in the bell shape but i prefer the square shaped one that my MIL has because you can fit the entire package of butter inside.

I have this one and I love it!

I don't know why, but these bum me out. I do the same as Emlyryz with the regular butter dish.